The spelling of Erik's name is less common in English than "Eric", but it is the typical Dutch spelling. Recall that Erik's family was the first to settle South Cape — regarded as the equivalent to Capetown, South Africa, which was settled by the Dutch prior to English colonization. Thus, the spelling of Erik's name, as opposed to the English names of his friends, is a subtle nod to South African colonial history.
After Will passes Ishtar's test and returns to Ishtar's room to get the Magic Dust, Ishtar has disappeared, there's now a chest in the room with the Magic Dust, and in his place is a self-portrait. Considering that his paintings trap their subject inside them...did he do it as part of Will succeeding at his challenge, or was he already working on a self-portrait, effectively making this Driven to Suicide?
It's possible that he may have felt guilty about trapping everyone in paintings, and sealed himself to end it all.
Not to mention that the other people trapped in paintings will be there forever now.
According to a Moon Tribesman at their camp, this will be the FOURTH time the comet has passed by Earth. One wonders what Earth was like after the first and second times...
